Candide - New London Symphony Orchestra recording

Has anyone else given this new Candide a listen? Recorded at the Barbican in 2018 Marin Alsop conducts a concert adaptation very similar to the 2004 New York Philharmonic version with the addition of "Universal Good" and the exception of "Quiet." Sir Thomas Allen reprises his role from that Philharmonic concert as the narrator and Dr. Pangloss. The book largely follows the 2004 New York Philharmonic concert though there are some extended passages included here that were condensed for the previous concert version. Leonardo Capalbo is Candide, Jane Archibald is Cunegonde and Anne Sophie von Otter takes on the role of the Old Lady. Overall it's an enjoyable addition to the many, many recordings of Candide that are available and though it says it was recoded live there's nearly no indication an audience was present. There is no applause at the conclusion of numbers. Though I suppose this is technically a slight variation of the 2004 adaptation, if you are a fan of this adaptation or a fan of Candide it is worth a listen.

Updated On: 11/2/21 at 02:41 PM

I gave it a listen. The singing is really quite good on the whole, but the dialogue scenes (with the exception of Thomas Allen and Anne Sofie von Otter's contributions) are particularly flat and lifeless. That being said, the final "Make our Garden Grow" is thrilling. 

The Bernstein recording is also incredibly slow, which mutes away the spiky syncopations that make his music so thrilling. This new version is lovely and lush, though it also suffers from the lack of punchy showmanship that I think Candide really needs to work. It's funny, because it's lovely to be able to linger over every orchestral flourish, but I've never heard an operatic presentation of Candide that doesn't come across as mushy and soupy.

joevitus said: "Charley Kringas Inc said: "The Bernstein recording is also incredibly slow, which mutes away the spiky syncopations that make his music so thrilling. This new version is lovely and lush, though it also suffers from the lack of punchy showmanship that I think Candide really needs to work. It's funny, because it's lovely to be able to linger over every orchestral flourish, but I've never heard an operatic presentation of Candide that doesn't come across as mushy and soupy."

Agree with you and Dollypop on this.

The original is still the best, IMO."

 

The slower tempo may be the result of Bernstein being I'll during the recording. If my memory is correct, he died shortly after completing it. While it was announced the Maetro died from a severe case of the flu, Jerry Hadley told me he died from a strange form of AIDS . Please remember that Hadley was an inveterate liar and probably was trying to have a story to cover his various indiscretions in case that was needed.

 

Many would at least rank Barbara Cook fairly highly.